01-02 Wesel FHC & Delft, Netherlands

WESEL FAMILY HISTORY CENTER




























DELFT, NETHERLANDS






































































ROYAL DELFT FACTORY-NETHERLANDS























SCHLOSS MONTABAUM








Got up at 7:00 AM to start out for Wesel which is situated in the North West corner of Germany, near the Netherlands border. We knew it would take about 3 hours to get there so we left early to get to our appointment at the Wesel FHC to take them a new computer. Brother Tadaszak met us there with two full time missionaries. One was a computer genius that helped us get the computer set up. There was a problem connecting to Salt Lake City through the Internet, so we called for help from Tim Manners in England. We were there a total of almost 4 hours. I strolled around and took pictures of the chapel. We ended up taking the Elders to the Bahnhoff (train station). It was 14 degrees C which means 27 degrees F to us. The wind was blowing really hard, so it felt even colder. A huge cold front is coming down from Russia and going through Central Europe. I believe it! I have never seen it so cold. Hope it warms up before our family comes the middle of February.

After taking care of business we then went to Delft, Netherlands to pick up some presents from the Delft Factory. The streets are confusing and most of the time you are driving on the edge of dikes filled to the brim with ice cold water, Gene said it was a little disconcerting, but it is a beautiful town. We were not disappointed in the Delft Factory. Found a few things for myself this time. We stopped at our favorite breakfast place, Micky Dee's. We got the usual, sausage and egg biscuit with an orange juice and a ham & cheese Croissant with hot chocolate. Gene gave them the order in German like we always do, but they were not use to us so this is what we got, bacon & egg biscuit and a plain croissant. What are they thinking. Gene took it back since that would have cost us 9 euros. As Gene would say, "That was an adventure".

On our way home we saw a Schloss on the freeway 20 km north of Limburg. We never saw it before traveling that freeway, but we did this time, so we pulled off into the town of Montabaum. Schloss Montabaum is a Baroque castle. It has an outer bailey and a three story circular tower. The keep is 33 feet high. In 959 it was the residence of Duke Herman of Swabia and then to the Arch Bishop of Trier up until the end of the 18th Cent. From 1851 until 1969 it has been used as a hotel and administrative offices, as well as a conference center. It is a beautiful yellow color. Just stayed a few minutes and took some photos of the town on a cliff. When you walk around the castle it has a great feeling about it, very homey.

04 Feb 2012 Neustadt & Hambacker Schloss

HAMBACHER -NEUSTADT








































HAMBACHER SCHLOSS




















HAMBACHER SCHLOSS MUSEUM











This morning we called our good friends the Peter's and asked if they would like some visitors for the day? We wanted to see them as well as peruse their basement for any clothes in my size. You are probably wondering how I could be so nosey, but Marianne and her daughter Simone go to the flo (flea) market and sell clothes. Their basement is full of clothes, what better place to find something on the spur of the moment.

Right now the weather is too cold to work outside, so they were happy to get our business. They kept bringing things for Gene and I to try on. Gene found 2 jackets, a suit and two sweaters. I found so many things, I could not count them all. It was fun, I made Gene check to see if they were okay. Are you kidding me? We had the biggest laugh over a lot of things that obviously didn't fit.

We arrived at 11:00 PM and they promptly made lunch for us. Ham roast, vegetable gravy with spatzel (Schwabian food) and a tossed green salad. They are both very good cooks. When they come to see us in California, they said they would do all the cooking. Ah, German food everyday. We will have to do a "Tip Top" run for many things. (That is a German restaurant and deli in Carlsbad.)

After lunch they took us to see the Hambacher Schloss in Hambach, a suburb of Neustadt. It was a political History museum of Germany during WWI & WWII, very interesting. As you can see, Elder Walters was rather tired and took advantage of the quiet time. I took a picture for posterity. Here is a little info on the castle. Hambach Castle is the symbol of the German Democracy movement, because of the Hambacher Fest which occurred in 1832. It is on the outskirts of the Palatine Forest which is filled with sweet chestnut trees. We got some good shots of the towns in the valley from the top of the Castle.

It was also an estate used for protection as well as a robber baron castle over the trade roads. It was used as early as Roman times from 1090 until the 18th Cen. It was owned by the Bishopric of Speyer. In 1982 the Castle was completely restored for 6 million euros for the 150th Anniversary of the Hambacher Festival.

We took the long way around the castle which was a mistake, as it was 20 degrees F. Our faces and ears were so cold. The castle was on a high hill that over looks a huge valley. It looks nothing like a European castle in form. It looks more like a palace for King Herod. The stones are all square cut with smooth edges. Very interesting architecture. Check out the photos. All in all it was a very happy day for us.